LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Ice on the roadway is being blamed for the deaths of two motorists this morning (12/26) in the 9900 block of US 231 S.

The Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a single vehicle personal injury crash in the 9900 block US HWY 231 S. Preliminary investigation indicates that the vehicle was traveling north on US 231 when the driver lost control of the vehicle due to ice on the roadway. The vehicle, a 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara, left the east side of the roadway, slid through the ditch and struck a tree on the driver’s side of the vehicle before coming to rest.

Emergency personnel arrived to find three occupants entrapped in the vehicle. The driver, Billy E. Johnson (49), and front passenger, Beth A. Johnson (50), were fatally injured at the scene. The rear passenger, Bradley W. Johnson (20), was extricated from the vehicle and transported to Home Hospital. Bradley W. Johnson was admitted to Home Hospital in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries. The front occupant airbags did deploy however none of the occupants were believed to be wearing seatbelts. Responding personnel reported ice covered roadways in the area at the time of the crash. Alcohol and or illegal drugs are not believed to be a factor in this crash.

Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstructionists were dispatched to assist with the investigation. The Randolph Fire Department and Tippecanoe Ambulance Service also assisted with the investigation. The crash is still under investigation at this time.